Isolation and characterization of the promoter and flanking regions of the gene encoding the human protein-synthesis-initiation factor 2 alpha.

The promoter region of the gene (eIF-2 alpha) for eukaryotic initiation factor 2 alpha (eIF-2 alpha) was isolated from a human genomic library and its structure was determined by restriction mapping and nucleotide (nt) sequence analysis. The promoter region and twelve in vivo transcriptional start points (tsp) have been identified by endonuclease S1 mapping and their location confirmed by primer-extension analysis, using RNA isolated from human cells. The untranslated leader is 102 to 140 nt long depending upon the tsp, and the 5' region of the mRNA has the potential for forming stable stem-loop structures. The nt sequence of the regions upstream and downstream from the tsp contains neither a 'TATA box' nor a 'CAAT box', but does contain several direct and inverted repeats, as well as palindromic sequences near the tsp. In addition, multiple consensus binding sites for a wide variety of regulatory proteins are present throughout upstream and downstream tsp-flanking regions.